Heel



Nov. 28, 1933. L MANFRA 1,936,637

HEEL

Filed Dec. 25, 1930 JW A TTo/e/VE y Patented Nov. 28, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENTv x errer Application December 23, 1930 Serial No. 504,262

2 Claims.

This invention refers to improvements in attaching devices, particularly adapted to the at-` tachment of rubber pads to the heels of shoes or boots. A particular feature of this invention is to provide a device by which a heel-lift or pad, made of rubber or other resilient material and representing the wearing portion of the heel may be quickly attached to or detached from an intermediate supporting element, permanently fas-V tened to the upper heel portion adjoining the sole.

One object of the invention therefore is to provide a plate to form an integral part of the main body of the heel and adapted to securely hold a resilient heel-pad in place.

Another object is to provide fastening means between said plate and said resilient pad which do not require the use of nails or screws.

A third object is to make these fastening means of such nature that any tendency of the attached heel-pad to act loosely or ap is entirely pre- Vented.

A fourth object is to provide means which in spite of the aforementioned requirement of a close and solid attachment of the pad to the supporting plate tend to increase the resiliency of the pad rather than diminish it.

A fifth object is to make the device of cheap, simple and easily accessible parts, so that an ordinary person, not possessed of the tools and professional outfit of a cobbler can renew a worn-out rubber heel without difficulty and without the use of a shoe-last.

A sixth object subservient to the above listed is to provide and indicate the best manner in which the permanent portion of the device, i. e. the heel plate may be attached to the sole of an ordinary shoe.

With these and similar objects in View the in- 40 vention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter set forth, it being understood that changes in the construction may be made without departing from the principles of the invention.

, HIn the accompanying drawing:-

Figure l is a perspective view of the sole and heel of a mans shoe, embodying the invention with part of the heel-members broken away to disclose the inner construction. Figure 2 shows in perspective the holding plate or metallic support, as attached to the main or sole portion of the heel, before attaching the resilient pad.

Figure 3 showsthe latter in perspective.

Figure 4 is a cross section through the whole (Cl. Sti-36) device revealing the construction and correlation of the dierent members. Y

Referring to the drawing A' designates a sole of a mans shoe or boot and B the heel portion adjoining the sole. The rim on the heel portion of this main sole is chamfered down to a sharp edgefrom the point 17 on, as Figs. 1 and i indicate, and the heel portion 18 of the uppers is fastened to this edge in any convenient and professional manner. Numeral 19 indicates the inner sole which is to hold the screw heads and 26 is a thin pad to cover said heads. On this heel portion of leather is iixedly attached by screws or preferredly by bolts a metal plate C of aluminum or other suitable metal, usually enameled in the finish color of the leather, shaped along the contour of the heel and flush with its circumference. Thus the inetal plate forms in outward appearance a direct continuation of the main sole, the upper edges A' and 17a being in alignment, as Fig. 1 shows. This enhances the neat appearance of the finished product. The upper side of this heel-plate is preferredly dished as shown by 5 on Fig. 4, and it is surrounded on all sides by -flanges. On the front the ange 6 forms a ridge, just sufficiently high to spring the rubber part, described later, over it and to retain it in place. Along the sides and on therear the flange 7v is somewhat higher and is provided with an inwardly turned margin 8, forming thus a channel, running all around the circular portion of the heel plate to within a short distance from the front ridge, as the ends 8 of the margin indicate. The dished plate 5 is provided with holes 9 to receive the bolts 10 which fasten the heel plate permanently to the shoe. K

The rubber pad D, as shown in Fig. 3 and indicated in section by Fig. d follows in its contour that of the heel plate and is provided with a groove 1l into which the margin 8 of the heel plate lits, so that by sliding the pad from the front upon the plate the rubber heel is securely seated.

The front edge 12 of the pad is sprung over the metal ridge 6 which thus prevents any sliding forward and dislocation of the rubber. While the outer or bottom edge 13 is flush with the outer iiange i of the plate, the contour of the top rim 14 over the groove 11 is slightly receding, (see Fig. a) as it forrns a tongue fitting into the channel formed by the heel plate. The upper surface 15 of the rubber pad which can be slightly concave, following the dished contour of the metal plate 5, or is preferably straight, as Fig. 4

shows, is not in direct Contact With the latter, except for a circular spot 16 in the center, but provides a small space between the two members just sufficient to clear the bolt heads. Furthermore, if it were not for this clearance, it would be difficult to slide the rubber pad over and into the anged portion of the holder plate. Aside from the great riotionbetween a tight fitting top rim.. 14 and themetal the bolt heads would be in the- Way. As shown however, the top rim 14 has suicient clearance to resiliently yield and at the' Also, thisA same time to slip over the bolt heads. clearance will prevent a progressive adhesion and agglutination of the rubber to the metal plate Which would make subsequent removal diflioult.

Finally the Weight of the body is mainly transferred to the rigid outer edge of theshoeeheel, While the middle portion by means of itsairoi spaces and general disposition forms a more elastic cushion on which the heel bone rests;A

Walkinguthus becomes less tiresome ,and the shock-absorbing quality of therubberheels is increasedm Though the, drawing only showsk the applicationof the deviceto a gentlemans heel, it is to be `under s tood Athat, it is equally applicable to ladies` and childrens foot-gear.

It is also, evident that many changes in the material or forms of thev operative parts may be gnadewihoutaecting the principles of the invention., What is claimed as new and is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

1. 1n ,a detachable lshoeheel the combination A,beingladapted to be fitted from the front into said groove-shaped flange and to be locked into place uby'being sprung over said ridge.

2. A detachable shoe heel, comprising a slightly curved resilient plate, means to fasten said plate withz itsconcave side next to the integral part of theihelesaid plate being permanently fastened .to said part by screwbolts, with their heads countersunk into said part, the plate having an inwardly, extending flange,.k spacedfrom Hits .unden ,side,.a. removable-. heel, .havinga tongue- `and. Y

groove-connection .with saidiian'ga .and on .its

-f upper.,side where` it faces, the convex -side of said vresilient plate, beingformed soy as to leaveV a lim- 1 ited vair spaceto facilitate a free sliding lit when theheelis being yremoved or assembled, said..airU i. space extending -outwardlyto the Yvertical leg of vthe vilange,..and,means Vto lock thetongue-andY l groove-connection-securelywhen ,the plate and. 1 the removable' heel are.assembled.-

LOUIS MANFRA.

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